GERMAN RETREAT

Grey River Argus, 2 December 1943, Page 5

GERMAN RETREAT

NOR’-WEST OF GOMEL RUSSIAN PRESSURE Increased on Lower Dnieper HARDER RESISTANCE NEAR JLOBIN. [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] LONDON, Nov. 30. A Soviet communique stated: The Red Army, after overcoming counterattacks, occupied several inhabited places and between the Dnieper and Beresina, south of Jlobin captured several places. Russians advanced in the lower courses of the Pripet and captured a number of places. A dispatch to the British Broadcasting Corporation says: Mopping up of enemy rearguards north-west of Gomel between the Sozh and Dnieper Rivers, is proceeding satisfactorily. The .area has been cleared of the enemy almost as far as Jlobin. A Moscow message stated: The Russian crossing to the left bank of the Beresina repeated in miniature exploits in crossing the Dnieper. The Germans were taken by surprise and their main forces arrived from Jlobin only on the third and fourth days. Many strongpoints were overwhelmed before the arrival of the Gferman battle reserves. Russians driving towards Jlobin are meeting stiffer resistance, as the Germans have large concentrations of artillery, tanks, caterpillars and guns in this vital area. The Red Army is advancing on the right bank of the Beresina by a highway through a wilderness of forests. Incessant sleet and rain have obliterad most of the by-ways. Front line reports say that the Germans have massed artillery and armour south of Jlobin. Heavy rain and wet snow are adding to the Red Army’s difficulties, but good progress has been made.

Battle for Rivers IN SODDEN COUNTRY. HUGE FORCES ENGAGED. (Rec. 7.45) LONDON, Nov. 30. A. press despatch from Moscow says: A battle for the three rivers is on in Russia. It is being fougnt out over territory which is a huge expanse .of sodden desolation, lying between the rivers Beresina, Soj and Dnieper. Red Army forces already are firmly entrenched on the banks of all three of the rivers. They are holding a line which runs horizontally across them. A correspondent of the British United Press says: The Russians on the White Russian front are fighting under conditions which they, know well, but which do not favour methods which the Germans thusfar have employed in Russia. For example, the enemy have already hesitated too long before abandoning garrisons in endless swamps where withdrawals, even when started in time, must oe slow and laborious. The Russians and Germans are both employing huge tank and infantry forces in a battle for Jlobin in spite of the morass, but sodden conditions are grounding the Red Air Force and the Luftwaffe, GERMAN ADMISSION. (Rec. 8.10) LONDON, Nov. 30. The German News Agency’s commentator, Von Hammer, says: The Russians, flinging in fresh rifle divisions in the' Gomel area, have pushed German lines back several miles. JLOBIN AND MOSIR EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN (Rec. 12.5) LONDON. Dec. 1. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent, says: The fall of two White Russian bastions, Jlobin and Mosir, seems imminent. Russian forces are under seven miles from Jlobin, and ape only ten miles south-east of Mosir. GERMAN TACTICS. (Rec. 12.10.) LONDON, Nov. 1. Vichy radio reports: “The Germans in the Gomel region are continuing systematic disengagement movements. They are falling back on Jlobin and Rogachev. GERMAN CLAIM i GOMEL FORCES EVADE 4 PINCERS. LONDON, Dec. 1. It is reported that on Tuesday night Russian spearheads were within seven miles of Jlobin. . The German radio admitted German troops were continuing to retreat to Jlobin and also to Rogachev. ~ , T. The German radio added: Even the capture of Jlobin would not decide the fate of the German forces In the Gomel area, because they already have escaped the Russian pincer movement there. 15 ENEMY COUNTER ATTACKS. REPULSED NORTH-WEST OF GOMEL. (Rec. 10.10) LONDON, Dec. 1. The Moscow radio reports that German forces vesterdav counter-at-tacked no fewer than fifteen times in one area north-west of Gomel. All of the attacks were repelled. The enemy lost in killed alone more than fifteen hundred. RUSSIAN CAPTURES ON DNIEPER BELOW KIEV LONDON, Nov. 30. A Soviet communique stated: The Red Army in the'Cherkasy area seized important positions and south-west of Kremenchug, as a result of stubborn fighting, captured several strongnoints. A Moscow message* stated: All along the Dnieper below Kiev the Russians are attacking. They have increased the threat to Cherkasy (100 miles below Kiev) and have cut the railway from Cherkasy to Smyelo, an important junction 20 miles to the south-west. South-west of Kremenchug several fortified enemy strongpoints have fallen, and in the south of the Dnieper Bend the Russians have taken places 15 and 35 miles north-east of Nikopol. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports the German line in the Dnieper elbow is beginning to crack between Krivoi Roq> and Nikopol. The Russian attacks along the sixty miles front .are preventing the Germans concentraing their reserves; CHERKASY BATTLE. (Rec. 12.10.) LONDON, Dec. 1. Moscow radio, referring to the battle for Cherkasy, says: Prisoners state German forces received orders to hold their positions at any cost. German infantry suffered heavv losses in (prolonged icount’er-attacks. They refused to continue any active operations. Soviet troops are strik-